Adaptors for taps or faucets

ABSTRACT

An adaptor for a water tap which is adapted to give both stream flow and spray flow in differing positions of the adaptor providing automatic return to first position when water is shut off thus insuring stream flow when water is turned on. The valve means has a movable valve member which is movable between two differing positions co-operative with the hydraulic force of the water and which causes minimum restriction for low pressure water flow in either valve position, the valve member returning by force of gravity or being assisted by a spring from spray position to stream flow position when the water is shut off. The valve member is operated without external lever and projections with two options of manipulation either by pushing the valve stem upwardly for spray flow or by squeezing the body rim for the same spray flow.

United States Patent [1 1 Flater Mar. 12, 1974 Inventor:

Filed:

Ln., Doncaster, England May 24, 1971 Appl. No.: 146,224

[52] US. Cl. 239/447, 239/449 [51] Int. Cl BOSb 1/16 [58] Field of Search .239/436-449, 239/428.5

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,341,132 9/1967 Parkison 239/443 3,067,952 12/1962 Aghnides 239/428.5 3,286,935 11/1966 Corlett et al.. 239/440 X 3,358,934 12/1967 Moen 239/449 X 3,524,591 8/1970 Samuels eta 239/428.5 2,867,230 1/1959 Bletcher et al. 239/443 X 3,690,565 9/1972 Abos 239/447 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-John J. Love Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Harrington A. Lackey [5 7 ABSTRACT An adaptor for a water tap which is adapted to give both stream flow and spray flow in differing positions of the adaptor providing automatic return to first position when water is shut off thus insuring stream flow when water is turned on. The valve means has a movable valve member which is movable between two differing positions co-operative with the hydraulic force of the water and which causes minimum restriction for low pressure water flow in either valve position, the valve member returning by force of gravity or being assisted by a spring from spray position to stream flow position when the water is shut off. The valve member is operated without external lever and projections with two options of manipulation either by pushing the valve stem upwardly for spray flow or by squeezing the body rim for the same spray flow.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures nnnx I /5 22 5 4 n PATENTEUIAR 12 m4 SL796; 378

' SHEET 1 [IF 3 VENTO P ANDERS HAROLD FLATER A TOR/V5) PATENTEUHAR 12 1914 3796; 378

SHEET 2 OF 3 lA/VEA/TOQ ANDERS HAROLD FLATER 4 47' ENE) Pmmwmmmn 3796378 SHEEI 3 0F 3 vEA Q ANDERS HAROLD FLATER 47 ENE) 1 ADAPTORS FOR TAPS R FAUCETS This invention relates to an adaptor for water taps or faucets and shower heads, hereinafter referred to as taps for convenience of description.

Adaptors for taps have been known for many years and such adaptors are usually designed to give certain types of liquid flow, i.e. spray flow or stream flow through the grasping of a hand operated and protruding lever. My invention aims at providing an adaptor which is cabpable of adjustment at even liquid pressure and whereby the type of water flow maybe changed without the aid of protruding levers or liquid pressure differencies and which adaptor automatically returns to the first flow position when liquid is shut off thereby insuring the expected flow everytime the liquid is turned on. Another purpose of the invention is to provide an adaptor embodying an easy and quick switching of the flow positions by either hand and with two options of manipulations and which action is assistedby the hydraulic force of the liquid itself. Another feature of my invention is the automatic returns of the valve member by gravitational forces, which action may be assisted by a spring device.

According to my invention there is provided an adaptor for a water tap comprising a body adapted to be connected to an outlet of the tap and valve means located within said body, said valve means having a movable valve member which is movable between two differing positions, the movable valve member when in one of said positions being adapted to give stream flow and when in the second position being adapted to give spray flow, the valve member being adapted to return automatically to first flow condition when the adaptor is fitted to a water tap and the tap is turned on.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I shows a sectional elevation of an adaptor according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 2A show respectively a sectional elevation and plan of the valve member of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 3A show respectively a sectional elevation and plan of a housing ring present in each of the embodiments; and

FIGS. 4 and 4A show a sectional elevation and a plan of a spray plate present in each of the embodiments of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the adaptor comprises a body 1 housing in the belied outlet end thereof, valve means including a housing ring 2 having slots 3. Ring 2 encircles a flange 4 of valve member 5 which is free to slide between a spray plate 6 and the inside surface 7 of the ring 2.

In the embodiment, the valve 5 has one or more screens 12 inside its stem, which stem fits slidably into the spray plate 6; said centre hole may have grooves to effect spray and/or holes or apertures represented by numeral 14. The spray plate 6, preferably having a circumferential conical valve seat 6A, is contained by lip 15 of the body 1.

The adaptor shown in HO. 1 operates in the following manner. The adaptor is fitted to the outlet end of a tap T through the top hole 16 and receives the liquid 6 (water) inside the flexible neck 17. The water flows around the ring 2 through passage 21 and slots 3 forcing the valve flange 4 on to the seat 6A of the spray plate 6 thereby blocking the holes 14. The water enters the valve through opening 19 (FIG. 2) from where it is forced through the screen 12 and escapes through valve exit 18 as stream flow and the valve means is in the first position.

When spray flow is desired, the protruding stem of valve 5 is pushed slightly upward which action lifts the valve flange 4 off the seating 6A of the spray plate 6. As this happens, the water pressure between the spray plate 6 and the undersurface of the valve flange 4 forces the valve flange 4 on to the inside surface 7 of the valve cap 2 which then blocks the valve opening 19 making the water flow over the spray plate 6 and out through the holes 14 in the form of spray and the valve means is now in the second position.

For return to stream flow, whilst the water is still running,'the protruding stem of valve 5 is moved slightly downward which action unblocks the valve opening 19 from the inside surface 7, and the water forces the flange valve 4 on to the seat 6A of the spray plate 6 blocking the holes 14, and again escapes through valve exit 18 as stream flow. Return from spray to stream flow will take place automatically when the tap is shut off. When the tap is shut off the valve flange 4 drops from the inside surface 7 of the valve cap 2 on to plate 6 and is forced on to the spray plate 6 when the tap is again turned on. A spring device such as a rubber cord 22 is preferably used to ensure the dropping of the valve 5. The rubber cord is held in a hole 25 in housing ring 2, said cord pushing on screen 12.

It is believed that the advantages of the above described embodiment will be apparent as it provides an alternative type of flow i.e. stream or spray, where changing from one type of flow to another is simple and in the case of changing from the first position to the second position is assisted by the liquid flowing through the adaptor and which action does' not require any change in the pressure of the liquid. In each case, the adaptor valve means returns to the desired first position when the water supply is turned on thus ensuring each time that the expected flow will be present.

The body 1 can be made in flexible material, such as rubber so that by means of the ring formations on the flexible neck 17, the adaptor can easily be manipulated to direct the flow as desired.

The components of the adaptor described may be I constructed of suitable materials, such as synthetic plastics material, consistent with providing an adaptor of minimum cost but of adequate robustness.

What I claim is:

1. An adaptor for a water tap comprising:

a. a body having a water passage therethrough terminating in an open inlet end adapted to be connected to an outlet of a water tap, and an open outlet end portion,

b. a spray plate having spray apertures and a valve hole therethrough,

c. means supporting said spray plate within said outlet end portion to close the flow of water through said outlet end portion, except through said spray apertures and said valve hole,

d. a solid housing ring mounted within said body spaced from said spray plate toward said inlet end, and spaced from said body to form a peripheral flow passage,

e. a valve member having a tubular stem slidably movable axially through said valve hole and having 3 a solid flange projectinglaterally from the periphery of said stem between said spray plate and said housing ring,

f. said valve member being axially movable between a stream flow position in which said flange seats against said spray plate to block fluid flow through said spray apertures and to permit fluid flow between said flange and said housing ring and through said tubular stem, and a spray flow position in which said flange is seated against said housing ring to block fluid flow through said tubular stem and to permit flow between said flange and said spray plate and through said spray apertures.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said valve hole is in the center of said'spray plate, and said tubular stem depends from the center of said solid flange.

3. The invention according to claim 2 in which said spray plate is annular and said solid flange is annular. 1 4. The invention according to claim 1 in which said housing ring is above said spray plate, and said valve member is axially moved to stream flow position by gravity.

5. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising spring means biasing said valve member toward said stream flow position.

6. The invention according to claim 1 in which said valve member is held in either its stream flow position or in its spray flow position by the pressure of the water moving past said valve member.

7. The invention according to claim 1 in which said body member is made of flexible material. 

1. An adaptor for a water tap comprising: a. a body having a water passage therethrough terminating in an open inlet end adapted to be connected to an outlet of a water tap, and an open outlet end portion, b. a spray plate having spray apertures and a valve hole therethrough, c. means supporting said spray plate within said outlet end portion to close the flow of water through said outlet end portion, except through said spray apertures and said valve hole, d. a solid housing ring mounted within said body spaced from said spray plate toward said inlet end, and spaced from said body to form a peripheral flow passage, e. a valve member haviNg a tubular stem slidably movable axially through said valve hole and having a solid flange projecting laterally from the periphery of said stem between said spray plate and said housing ring, f. said valve member being axially movable between a stream flow position in which said flange seats against said spray plate to block fluid flow through said spray apertures and to permit fluid flow between said flange and said housing ring and through said tubular stem, and a spray flow position in which said flange is seated against said housing ring to block fluid flow through said tubular stem and to permit flow between said flange and said spray plate and through said spray apertures.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said valve hole is in the center of said spray plate, and said tubular stem depends from the center of said solid flange.
 3. The invention according to claim 2 in which said spray plate is annular and said solid flange is annular.
 4. The invention according to claim 1 in which said housing ring is above said spray plate, and said valve member is axially moved to stream flow position by gravity.
 5. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising spring means biasing said valve member toward said stream flow position.
 6. The invention according to claim 1 in which said valve member is held in either its stream flow position or in its spray flow position by the pressure of the water moving past said valve member.
 7. The invention according to claim 1 in which said body member is made of flexible material. 